By David Sharp
An 87-year-old Maine woman ably fought off a teenage attacker, then fed him because he said he was “awfully hungry.”
Marjorie Perkins said she awoke at 2 a.m. on July 26 and saw the young man standing over her bed. He had shed his shirt and pants and told her he was going to cut her.
“I thought to myself, if’s he's going to cut, then I’m going to kick,” she said.
She put on her shoes and fought back, putting a chair between them as the two jostled in her Brunswick home. The intruder struck her on the cheek and forehead before switching tactics and heading for the kitchen. He told Perkins that he was “awfully hungry," she said.
So, she gave him a box of peanut butter and honey crackers, two protein drinks and two tangerines.
Perkins dialed 911 on her rotary phone and was talking to a dispatcher while the intruder collected his pants and left. He left behind a knife, shirt, shoes and a water bottle containing alcohol, she said.
Perkins, who has become a bit of an international celebrity since the attack, said she still feels safe in the home where she's resided for 42 years, but worries about rampant crime. She said it seems to have gotten worse over the past few years and that criminals don't fear going to jail.
“I think our law has just folded up," she said. “People aren’t afraid of anything anymore. They feel they can do as they please.”
Police said in a news release that they quickly tracked down the teenager and charged him with burglary, criminal threatening, assault and consuming liquor as a minor. Authorities did not release his identity because of his age. They said the teen was staying a few blocks away from the victim.
Cup Noodles is expanding its flavors to include a breakfast option. The new, limited edition breakfast ramen has flavors of sausage, eggs, maple syrup, and pancakes. The flavor is currently available at Walmart for $1.39.
New Hampshire’s highest court on Wednesday turned away the latest attempt to get a sentence reduction for Pamela Smart, who is serving life in prison for plotting with her teenage lover to have her husband killed in 1990.
Hundreds gathered Wednesday at a candlelight vigil in Nashville to honor and mourn the three children and three adults who were killed in a shooting at a Christian school this week.
Good2Know is your daily dose of the stories impacting your day-to-day life.
Two Army helicopters crashed in southwestern Kentucky during a routine training mission, causing several casualties, military officials said.
A train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire in Minnesota early Thursday and nearby residents were ordered to evacuate their homes, authorities said.
As more U.S. states legalize cannabis, more people are using it, and that includes seniors. While doctors say cannabis can prove beneficial for some individuals 65 and older, it comes with some risks. Here with more is Cheddar News Senior Reporter Chloe Aiello.
Real estate agent Abdul Muid, founder and principal of Ivey North, shares his checklist for finding an apartment with Cheddar News correspondent Shannon LaNier:
Renters are still struggling to find great apartments at reasonable prices, with 19 million renters spending at least third of their income on housing. Cheddar News correspondent Shannon LaNier visits Brooklyn, a hotbed for pricey apartments, and speaks with real estate agent Abdul Muid, founder and principal of Ivey North.
Credit Suisse violated a plea agreement with U.S. authorities by failing to report secret offshore accounts that wealthy Americans used to avoid paying taxes, U.S. lawmakers said Wednesday.
